Antony criticises Kerala Govt for refusing package

Pathanamthitta, Nov 3 (UNI) Defence Minister A K Antony today vehemently criticised the Kerala Government for not accepting the Agricultural package announced by the Centre.

Talking to newspersons here, he said West Bengal Government had availed Rs 400 crore from the package to provide debt relief to the farmers.

Mr Antony said Kerala shied away from the ''package'' citing the controversy over repayment. ''We could not describe those Governments that had received the package as anti-people,'' he added.

The Minister said the issue of ''repayment'' could be thrashed out through united effort.

Stating that the help had reached only Wayanad and Palakkad districts, he said from coming April, all districts in the country would come under NREM. In the first phase, a good number of districts in other states were included in the NREM, he added.

The Centre was generous towards the projects launched by the State Government, he said and added that all shades of people desired the continuance of the United Progressive Alliance(UPA) Government at the Centre.

He recalled that a 'Law Reforms Commission' had been constituted with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as Chairman to re-establish land distribution process.

The sea-change in the economic system had been evident in cities and villages. The economic advancement of the country had gained greater momentum, he added.

Expressing hope that the country would avert a mid-term poll, Mr Antony said the circumstances existed during the formation of UPA Government continues, since UPA was a front at the national level in which the political parteners evolved a consensus.

The policy of the Government favoured friendly-ties with neighbouring countries and the Congress never adopted an anti-China stance, he asserted.

He said eleven rounds of talks were held with China to resolve border issues. However, the Indian Army was alert to protect the borders of the land, he added.

UNI